For lack of interesting subject to tackle, we might as well dwell on an overused subject matter. The same old familiar story about a sinful husband who finds atonement after the wife died. It may be too late to atone for our sins but better late than never. The wife has died and we may cry to high heavens for her to be back in our arms again. But no way that she will inherit the magic of Lazarus so that she will rise from the dead. She is dead and we mourn her death. Until now. In fact, only last Thursday we have the occasion to remember her second death anniversary. As our way of remembering the day, we sponsored anniversary masses in two churches--Immaculate Conception church in Baclayon and at the St. Joseph Cathedral in this city. In the afternoon of the day was the usual anniversary prayer where neighbors were invited to commemorate with us her second death milestone. Heavy snacks were served. In the evening, we tendered a dinner party for close friends.

We cancelled an earlier schedule for a big blow out after we learned it was enough during the first death anniversary that generous food was served in keeping with religious tradition. As we indulged in religious commemoration the day the wife died two years ago, we also took time out from our daily grind to recall our days together as husband and wife. We recalled that life with our wife was never a bed of roses. Like any middle class couple we do have our occasional quarrels brought about by a third party. But unlike any other wife, our beloved Neria may have resented our philandering ways but she was not the scandalous type. Never had she showed her disavowal of our penchant for beautiful women with bed habits in public. She just kept it to herself whatever she felt thinking that in the end like a long procession it's still the church which is the final destination. Meaning, it was still back in her warm embrace even if at times we found ourselves in the cold comfort of other women who were seduced by our “dirty old man charm”. Not that she consented our wayward tendencies of loving another one.

It may be true that during our salad days we did have our hands full tinkering with all kinds of Barbie dolls wearing life size minis. We enjoyed every minute of our foolishness to the point of throwing all cautions to the winds. It was a pity that we only think of our self not knowing somebody was hurt and it was no other than the wife. This explains that for the nth time, we again asked for forgiveness even if the wife no longer balks at the prospect that we were playing games with the sacred rite of marriage. It's never too late to repent. The wife may be happily settled in the bosom of the Lord and at this time of her second death anniversary at least she's happy to know that time and time again there's no limit for a repeat performance of our act of atonement from a sinful ways we have inflicted in our checkered marriage.